IHCL Secures 51% Stake in Brij Hospitality
IHCL acquires controlling stake in Brij Hotels; bolsters leadership in leisure tourism.
By SOH Edit Team
Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has signed definitive agreements to acquire a 51% stake in Brij Hospitality, the owner of the boutique experiential leisure brand ‘Brij’. The acquisition gives IHCL ownership of the Brij brand and marks a strategic move to scale the boutique leisure segment in India in collaboration with the founding promoters.
Commenting on the transaction, Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & CEO, IHCL, said the hospitality sector is witnessing sustained demand driven by rising discretionary spending and a growing preference for experiential leisure. He added that deepening IHCL’s partnership with the Clarks Group through a majority stake in Brij Hotels strengthens its presence in one of India’s fastest-growing hospitality segments.
Strengthening IHCL’s Leisure and Boutique Portfolio
With this acquisition, IHCL consolidates its leadership in leisure tourism, particularly across cultural, spiritual and wildlife destinations. Brij’s portfolio of hotels in offbeat and high-potential locations—including Jaipur, Varanasi, Ranthambore, the northern hills, the North East and Goa—adds diversity to IHCL’s brandscape. The transaction expands IHCL’s portfolio to 610 hotels, with 253 in the pipeline, keeping the company on track to achieve its target of 700 hotels under its Accelerate 2030 strategy.
Brij Hotels is a collection of boutique luxury hotels and resorts known for immersive, locally rooted experiences. Its flagship property, the heritage BrijRama Palace in Varanasi, is an architectural landmark reflecting the city’s cultural legacy.
Udit Kumar and Anant Apurv Kumar, Co-Founders of Brij Hospitality, said the partnership with IHCL brings together Brij’s design-led, experiential approach with IHCL’s legacy of excellence in Indian hospitality. Together, they aim to build India’s first truly global boutique hospitality brand.